Editing Fact (section)

==In law==
{{further|Evidence (law)|Trier of fact}}
This section of the article emphasizes common law jurisprudence as primarily represented in Anglo-American–based legal tradition. Nevertheless, the principles described herein have analogous treatment in other legal systems such as [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] systems as well.

In most [[common law]] jurisdictions, the general concept and analysis of fact reflects fundamental principles of [[jurisprudence]], and is supported by several well-established standards.<ref name="Estrich000">{{cite book
| title     = American Jurisprudence: A Comprehensive Text Statement of American Case Law
| first     = Willis Albert
| last      = Estrich
| publisher = Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company
| year      = 1952
}}</ref><ref name="Elkouri000">{{cite book
| title     = How Arbitration Works
| first     = Frank
| last      = Elkouri
| publisher = BNA Books
| year      = 2003
| isbn        = 1-57018-335-X|page=305}}</ref> Matters of fact have various formal definitions under common law jurisdictions.

These include:

* an element required in legal pleadings to demonstrate a [[cause of action]];<ref name="Bishin000">{{cite book
| title     = Law Language and Ethics: An Introduction to Law and Legal Method
| url     = https://archive.org/details/lawlanguageethic00bish
| url-access = registration
| first     = William R.
| last      = Bishin
| publisher = Foundation Press
| year      = 1972
| id        = Original from the University of Michigan Digitized 2006|page=277| isbn = 9780882773797
}}</ref><ref name="Yale001">{{cite book
| title     = The Yale Law Journal: Volume 7
| url     = https://archive.org/details/jstor-783085
| publisher = Yale Law Journal Co
| year      = 1898
}}</ref>

* the determinations of the [[finder of fact]] after evaluating [[admissible evidence]] produced in a trial or hearing;<ref>''Per'' Lord Shaw of Dunfermline, ''Clarke v. Edinburgh and District Tramways Co'', 1919 S.C.(H.L.) 35, at p 36.</ref>
* a potential ground of reversible error forwarded on appeal in an [[appellate court]];<ref name="Houston000">{{cite book
| title     = The American and English Encyclopedia of Law
| url     = https://archive.org/details/americanandengl05garlgoog
| first     = John Houston
| last      = Merrill
| publisher = E. Thompson
| year      = 1895
| id        = Original from Harvard University Digitized 2007
}}</ref> and
* any of various matters subject to investigation by official authority to establish whether a [[crime]] has been perpetrated, and to establish culpability.<ref name="Bennett000">{{cite book
| title     = Criminal Investigation
| first     = Wayne W.
| last      = Bennett
| publisher = Thomson Wadsworth
| year      = 2003
| isbn        = 0-534-61524-4
}}</ref>

===Legal pleadings===
{{Main|Pleading}}

A party (e.g., [[plaintiff]]) to a civil suit generally must clearly state the relevant allegations of fact that form the basis of a [[Claim (legal)|claim]]. The requisite level of precision and particularity of these allegations varies, depending on the rules of civil procedure and jurisdiction. Parties who face uncertainties regarding facts and circumstances attendant to their side in a dispute may sometimes invoke alternative pleading.<ref>Roy W. McDonald, "Alternative Pleading in the United States". ''Columbia Law Review'', Vol. 52, No. 4 (Apr. 1952), pp. 443–478</ref> In this situation, a party may plead separate sets of facts that when considered together may be contradictory or mutually exclusive. This seemingly logically-inconsistent presentation of facts may be necessary as a safeguard against contingencies such as ''[[res judicata]]'' that would otherwise preclude presenting a claim or defense that depends on a particular interpretation of the underlying facts and ruling of the court.<ref>McDonald 1952</ref>